Spring suspension device for vehicles.



V. H. SEARS.

SPRING SUSPENSION DEVICE FOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FI LE D DEC. 31, H314.

Patented May 18, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

vv. wsamas. I SPRING SUSPENSION DEVfC-E FOR VEHICLES APPLICATION FILED DEC. 31 I914.

Patented May18f1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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zzjflasam clare that the following is SPRING SUSPENSION DEVICE FOR VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 18, 1915.

Application filed December 31, 1914. Serial No. 879,827.

To all whom it may concern:

' Be it known that I, VICTOR I-I. SEARS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spring Suspension Devices for Vehicles; and I do hereby dea full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, whichform a part of this specification.

This invention relates to a spring suspension device for wheeled vehicles and consists of the'matters hereinafter described and especially pointed out in the appended clai lifs. I v I e invention relates particularly to an equalizing spring suspension device by means of which the wheels of a vehicle, such for example, as an automobile, are connected to the body of the vehicle and by means of which a shock or jar received by one wheel, as when passing over an" obstruction or depression in the road, may through .the body or body supporting frame of the vehicle so that the shock imparted to will appear as I resenting in dotted that part of the vehicle body above the said wheel and the resulting vertical movement will be proportionately reduced. My improved'spring suspension device is so con,-. structed and arranged that the advantages of the equalizing spring suspension device will be effected whether the load in the body is evenly distributed or not. This feature of the invention is of great advantage as will be manifest when it is remembered that in automobiles, for example, the greater load is more frequently placed over one. wheel or one pair of wheels than over the others,- as when the automobile is driven with one seat occupied by two or three persons and the other by one or by no one at all.

The various advantages of my invention proceed with my specification.

' In the drawings: Figure 1 is a view repoutline an automobile with the frame on which the car body is mounted-and with my improved springsuspension device shown in full lines applied Cook and State the vehicle only, that is to say,

be distributed thereto. Fig. 2' 'a top plan view of frame and spring suspension device. Fig. 3 is a view representing a vertical section through Fig. 1 in a plane indicated by the lines 3-3 of. Fig. 1. Fig. 4: is a .vertical section through Fig. 1 in a plane indicated by the line H of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a vertical sectionthrough Fig. 1 in a plane in- 'dicated by the line 55 of Fig. 1-.

My improved suspension device as shown herein is applied to an automobile, but it is apparent that the connection is not the only way in which it may be used, but that it may be applied use of the device in this the with equal advantage to all wheeled veas illustrated, thesaid the sides of it is applied in such manner as to equalize and distribute shocks or jars longitudinally of the body of the vehicle or between the front and rear wheels at each side of the vehicle. Manifestly itmay be applied in similar fashion at the front and 'rear of the vehicle to distribute the shock transversely of the body of the vehicle between the wheels on one side and the wheels on the other side. v

Referring now to that embodiment of my invention illustrated in the drawings, 10 indicates the frame of the automobile and 11 indicates the body, which is mounted upon said frame in the usual and familiar manner.

12 designates the front axle of mobile and 13the rear axle.

The spring suspension device is duplihicles. In addition, suspension device is applied at the autocated on each side of the automobile so that spring. But it is to be understood that the said arrangement of springs isnot essential and it may be replaced by any equivalent or similar arrangement 'of springs adapted to evenly distribute 'the force applied to front and rear upwardly fac either end of the set of springs throughout the frame member with which said springs are connected.

151 and 15 indicate half elliptical springs ezsmbiy @i ihe usual leaf c011- i and he ferwar end. of re maid. springs face upwardly 5 with $3116 rigid iengitndiml bar Mam-My, the spring i i is appiiezi i Wiii not prevent the said and axiie mad. fiie fisher, namely, aha said springs from :wm'nachit g the is applied sin $11G rem axla, each bui; each stzip Wiii T mam the s i. i 0;--. iiy mounted on its respective from movemmt in an upward dire J3 imam of spring retaining blacks l6, Wiifiwut car with it the part of $1 30 be capable oil a making mnvsmant 19 with which it is connecaeci, midi a :ixgzpugh gaici bar, impartinga propo ti".

1 :1 of the body oi the vcmeia i hjmg efiecfi in Hie axle or wheel w i two springs anti 3.5 is said. spring is 2011216253962. 75 a I; i half QiiiPEiC-PM spring 17, Th said straps 2E2, preveni; 'he frame wag cimnfimrdh and which is pivha? from departing from a i csmiecteci at its middle point 0 1; position when tiia whisk is uneveaiy i 16* 0:5 the frame 1G by means of 2*, ed, L-1152i i2 its say, it will prevent the bar in mtaiiiing bieek 18 in such manner frsm depressed below a imrizen' bzj as a be czvpabia of a rocking msvement in sitiun in 511s naig'hborhood of the applic fails verticai OE" the springs 1% 511191 cf a heavier load tc-ihe vehicle bmiy. 5 The frame; 211% re 2' ends of tha intermediaie example, if the heavier ioad isappiieci $0 2a in n, cie. respectively is the rant and of the vehicle,mzmifestiyi1; W01

pr 2 Emm sapling 14: and ha e a tendency ta dxepress the forwarci e (i 5 links 955 the frame bar 19 and with ii: the iuru i 14% is c the 352mm; spring 145:. This, 11:22; 311 00.. v racked 6 bar prevented because a, ccrifespomim I? 3.13 m m 5. $118 Paar 0f the spring 14 V3 P and aha real" sping 15 is ammecied ed ihe strap connecling s :2

rear 0f safri sidie in: by ear (lid sf he with the bar 19 11s of a, pivsiai iiniz 15". is cannececi with zihe. from axle. Q. 11% fim tand rear axles are 8011316 3 also psi-farms and-her function 60 b6 ezzvcli side of the frame just inside the piane ETZQCi 0 l ter. of front and [9111 Wheel ana in in a i ei'tifile 0%? i of in n'pmvei 2 plane. of the springs 14:, and 17, by suupension (12 is as f0 *3 Sui,

means 01" a, truck member ccnsistingq :1 13% iii lml ai sd by 6119 Emmi; wha e 02: he itminuily (:Kteiding' bars 19 h i. Maia forax mipia. when passii over is. i

Quciia bar i1 1115126. in each of ill 0 .ciiion in 16 roflfi The M suspensiml Gavin-2s. bar is 1301' impact i M0 to 1x I r, ShQYVH; the front axle, vy lei @mrte an upw r 122 i d bolf; 120 P1196! toflm spring; i I 3316 from; WI-Leia and with 1 re i gum him is cunnecied 3i :1 @nfi of 516 imnfl 3719. This imp 0 iii. a the other aide, nah i" Q is force and will be a ipiiedi,

re v means of st 1 me iever ac jian ihe sevmj'ai gi: end bekaw 'i'he bar 19 and a: n w 1-1 1! 211(% 15 with th ith 1 Wow the rear spring i5 nez f v appiying 0219 half ii :11 that cannecieai ta f0 I '1 em of said side 1 mm bar +5 H= z t the spring rem Ring 2m I {1 the rem and 0 sai i as to as sm ci bin so f1 issim This is manifest wh movemeni is coma med so sai 11' 121-? b1 ed that iihu form exei'icfi canmuciion of the :ear eni 0f tbs mm {is} spring 1 Zne rm: axis is .ls 113045." in .iifiing paws? to m at 51 101 ff n :1 ciiresi; many and to fne .1 21! end of said 's'prii'lg, ijiz r0113; axis 1r? plioi ix) front end Ming exerted di" v mgitur" f the said. frame mnam"? 5;) i in wu-iiwzi w rear Fever spring 15 "wi h aqua; for? 212:).5 \& iii iDOWLEQl": in a Hiking dirociiun the ram and mi" ihu 123i: ax 'i :43 wim'mi c-mmcct m' 31. man" spring 15 SO via-14.:- impm't 2m ll'gWui-ii L. 0'5 i 2m and Li w cm force, agaizxst the mar and of the skis mum SUi'ibfii at the 1 r end of (and bar nmnimz' H).

cam: any 50 him-a1 muv e" Wi; the side frmnc mmiiy is :Li'lx'ilii; wheels in a, dime i0: thz'rmgl'mui, manifest-1y nmvumen mm 1:25; m "the can 305;. the result m. die shw k Wiil 16% same indicaie straps Wi iimmghout iheivngiah of said bar. Suppose,

1 212 1cm 0nd. cf Fzhe fra 1i spring hmvewar t o, Pillil of the machine masses i example, the front end of the machine, has

a heavier load than the rear end of the me.-

chine. Under these Circumstances, if the same force directed in an upward direction is applied to the front end of the machine as to the rear end of the machine, the upward impact would have less elfect upon the;

jar than the front end of the machine. The I straps 22, 23, however, prevent this unequalefi'ect in this way. For example, under the case submitted with the heavier load in the front end of the machine, the force of the impact imparted by the obstruction to the front wheel would be equally distributed and be applied equally to the front and rear ends of the side frame bar 10*. The rear end of the framebar, carrying a lighter load, would normally tend under this action to rise to a greater distance than the front end. The front end of the rear spring 15 would thus tend to be depressed a corresponding amount and this would result in a lowering of the rear end of the intermediate spring 17 and the raising of the front end of said spring a like amount. This, 110W? ever, would be prevented by the strap 23 which connects the rear end of the forward spring 14; with the longitudinal bar 19, and thus the tendency to lift the rear end of the side frame 'bar more than the front end would be exerted through the strap 23 in a proportional upward lifting movement 'of the front axle 12. Thus, as will be manifest, the jar and the resulting vibrations of the body due to said jar would be equally distributed longitudinally through the side frame bar of the machine.

The straps 22, 23, while providing the necessary connection between the truck member 19 and the spring suspension device in order that said spring suspension device shall operate and perform its function as above described, at the same time in no way prevents the springs from accomplishing their normal functions as springs in relieving the jar to the frame member to which they are connected, since said springs are perfectly free to yield toward said truck member.

As shown'the pivotal connection of the intermediate spring 17 through its associated spring block 18 is provided by a shaft 2i which extends transversely of the frame 10 and which is journalcd in suitable benring brackets fixed to each frame member 10". This construction acts to tie the two SHS])( nsion devices together and gives a.

- stronger bearing for the spring suspension (levigc at the middle of the vehicle frame.

While in describing my invention I have referred to certain details of construction and arrangement, it i's'to be understood that the invention is in no way limited except as pointed out in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A spring suspension device for vehicles, comprising in combination with the vehicle bodyand the wheels on which said body is mounted, a frame member connected with the body and interposed between said body and two of the said wheels, an equalizing spring device interposed between said two wheels and said frame memher, a truck member movable vertically with said two wheels, and means associated with each of said two wheels limiting the upward movement of said equalizing spring device intermediate .its ends relative to said truck member but permitting free downward movement of said equalizing spring device intermediate its ends relative to said truck member.

2. A spring'device for vehicles, comprising in combination with the vehiclebody and the ciated with each' of said two wheelslirniting the upward movement of said equalizing spring device intermediate its ends relative to said truck member but permitting free downward movement of said equalizing spring device intermediate its ends relative to said truck member. v

3. A spring suspension device for vehicles comprising in combination with the hicle body and the wheels on which'said body is mounted. a frame member connected with the body andinterposed between said body and two of the said wheels, an equalizing spring device interposed between said two wheels and said frame member, said equalizing device comprising a half elliptical upwardly facing spring associated with each wheel and pivotally connected at one end to said frame member, and an intermediate half elliptical downwardly facing spring pivotally connected intermediate its ends to said frame member and pivotally cmmcctcd at its ends to'said upwardly facing spring member. a truck member movable vertically with said two wheels,

and means associated with each upwardly 

